Refresher

In English practice. A fee paid to counsel on the trial of an action, in addition to the retainer paid him with his brief. In the practice of the queen's bench division, a refresher is usually paid to counsel for every day a trial lasts after the first day. REFULLUM (Law Lat.)

In old English law. A flowing back. Fleta, lib. 4, c. 27, § 4.

In the parlance of English courts, a fee paid to barristers, in cases of prolonged attendance and service. According to Brown's explanation, it frequently happens that, after the briefs in a cause have been delivered to counsel, the cause, from a press of business or some other reason, is adjourned, or allowed to stand over from one term or sittings to another, which imposes upon counsel the necessity of reperusing their briefs, in order to refresh their memory upon the various points of the cause; in consideration of which, it is usual for the attorney to mark on the briefs which have been so delivered a small additional fee, thence termed a refresher fee. We think the term is sometimes met in connections where it does not seem to imply any adjournment of a cause, but rather to mean a fee paid because the trial or proceeding was unexpectedly lengthy and laborious, — where the fee appears paid to refresh the spirits and revive the recipient's enthusiasm, rather than for the service of his refreshing his knowledge of the briefs.